New Orleans Saints safety Justin Reid said he had trouble sleeping on the team’s overnight flight from New York to Paris.
asserted
he → say → Paris
“I’m not in a bad mood about it because you still get to ride that high off of a big-time win,” Reid said Monday, alluding to the Saints’ 34-27, Week 6 victory over the Giants on Sunday.
asserted
Reid → ’m → Sunday
“We’re giving ourselves an opportunity here and able to ride on some good vibes.”
asserted
We → give → vibes
After falling behind 10-0, the Saints (2-4) remarkably scored 34 straight points before holding on with a fourth down stop on a pass to the end zone, ending New York’s comeback bid.
asserted
Saints → fall → bid
“The most important thing is that you got the win.
asserted
you → get → win
This league is measured in wins and losses; it’s not measured in scores,” Reid said.
asserted
Reid → measure → scores
“We showed up to the plate when we needed to and were able to close out a tough game.”
asserted
we → show → game
The victory, which stopped a three-game skid, provided some respite from an increasing sense of desperation that had owner Gayle Benson expressing dissatisfaction last week.
asserted
Benson → stop → dissatisfaction
The Saints now have a 2-1 record on the road, where their only loss came by a single point in overtime.
asserted
loss → have → overtime
Next, they’ll try to take a winning performance in the Big Apple into another in the City of Lights.
asserted
they → try → Lights
They’ll serve as the “home” team this coming Sunday in what also is the NFL’s first scheduled regular-season game in France.
asserted
what → serve → France
France sold its Louisiana territories — named to honor former French king Louis 14th — to the United States in the early 1800s.
asserted
France → sell → 1800s
The fleur-de-lis on the Saints’ helmet, as well as similar ones on the flags of New Orleans and Louisiana, resemble what was the primary emblem of French royalty for centuries.
asserted
what → resemble → centuries
That symbol doesn’t always engender pride among modern French citizens.
asserted
symbol → engender → citizens
They live in a republic that emerged from the French Revolution in the late 1700s.
asserted
that → live → 1700s
But if French spectators opt to root for the “visiting” Pittsburgh Steelers — with whom they’re bound to be more familiar, given their eight Super Bowl appearances, and six championships — that might not be such a bad thing for the Saints, considering their form in front of hostile crowds this season.
uncertain
that → opt → crowds
What’s working
The Saints’ running game, which had been anemic in recent weeks, came alive against the Giants.
asserted
which → work → Giants
New Orleans finished with a season-high 175 yards rushing, led by Kendre Miller’s 70 yards on 20 carries.
asserted
Orleans → finish → carries
Alvin Kamara, CJ Donaldson and quarterback Tyler Shough each also ran for 30-plus yards.
asserted
Kamara → run → yards
“It was all 11 — physical up front,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said Monday, noting that even receivers did well getting out to block Giants safeties.
asserted
receivers → say → safeties
“Our running backs ran really, really hard,” Moore said.
asserted
Moore → run → ?
“We had a good mix there.
asserted
We → have → mix
We’ve got to continue that.
asserted
We → get → that
We’ve got to build on that.”
asserted
We → get → that
What needs help
The Saints have largely done well against the pass this season, but had a rough day against the Giants, who gained 395 yards through the air.
asserted
who → need → air
Stock up
Defensive back Martin Emerson, who grew up about a three-hour’s drive east of New Orleans, in the Pensacola, Florida, area.
asserted
who → stock → area
Now in his first season with New Orleans (after his first three in Cleveland), Emerson had his first two interceptions as a Saint.
asserted
Emerson → have → Saint
Kamara’s 69 yards from scrimmage included a weaving, 31-yard touchdown on a screen pass that resembled the 31-year-old running back’s vintage form.
asserted
that → include → form
Rookie guard Jeremiah Wright, a fourth-round draft choice out of Auburn, had his first extended playing time, subbing in on the right side when veteran Cesar Ruiz was injured.
asserted
Ruiz → have → side
“Proud of him for stepping up and taking advantage of the opportunity,” Moore said of Wright.
asserted
Moore → step → Wright
“You never know when your opportunity’s going to present itself and you’ve got to take advantage of it.
asserted
you → know → it
With backup QBs under center for the Giants, Saints cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley had a difficult day — perhaps their worst this season — against receivers Malik Nabers (12 catches, 165 yards) and Isaiah Likely (six catches, 99 yards and a TD).
asserted
McKinstry → have → Nabers
Injuries
Ruiz left late in the first half against the Giants with a knee injury. ...
asserted
Ruiz → leave → injury
The Saints still await the debut of their first-round draft choice, Jordyn Tyson, who began the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
asserted
who → await → injury
He has traveled with the team to Paris in the event he is able to return to practice this week.
asserted
he → travel → practice
Key number
3:57 — The amount of time off the game clock — from 1:18 left in the second quarter until 12:21 remained in the third — it took for the Saints to turn a 10-0 deficit into a 17-10 lead.
asserted
Saints → leave → lead
Next steps
The Saints are spending all week in Paris as they prepare for Sunday’s game at the Stade de France.
asserted
they → spend → France
After that, they’ll return home on a bye week and return to their recent house of horrors — the Superdome — the week after Halloween, on Nov. 8 against Cleveland.
asserted
they → return → Cleveland
The Aporia
